Final report for FNC23-1376
Project Information
Nestled in the Kettle Moraine region of southeastern Wisconsin, Gwenyn Hill Farm grows certified organic produce and practices regenerative agriculture, maintaining the biodiversity of our fields and woodlands. Together, our staff manages an 80 cow organic dairy herd, grass-fed beef herd and grass-fed lamb flock. Our farm also raises organic heritage grains and eggs. The whole 430 acre farm is certified organic. In addition to the field crops and livestock the farm includes a 10 acre vegetable CSA farm. The farm is being managed for soil health, and a number of oak woodlands and fields are being restored to native prairie and oak savanna to promote native species of all kinds.
The project lead is Brian Randall. Brian grew up in an agricultural community in northern Wisconsin, working and learning on neighboring farms. After graduating with a BA in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2009, Brian joined the U.S. Marine Corps, living and working all over the world. He served 12 years before returning home to follow his passion for organic agriculture. After graduating from the Organic Vegetable Farm Manager (OVFM) Apprenticeship Program, Brian served as Gwenyn Hill’s Operations and Maintenance Manager prior to becoming General Manager in the summer of 2024.
Farmland covers roughly ⅓ of the entire state of WI, with permanent pasture making up about 7% of the total farmland acreage. We know agriculture is a strong driver of biodiversity loss on the landscape that contributes to the disappearance of our native invertebrate pollinators. However, agriculture can also be a dedicated solution to this crisis by providing quality, long term habitat for wildlife. The goal of this project is to assess the effectiveness of planted prairie in supporting both pollinator life and productive cattle forage. We expect that the results from this project will inform if pastures can play a leading role in pollinator conservation and an on-the-ground study for graziers to refer to as they consider where or how prairie fits into their farm and grazing system.
To assess the compatibility of diverse planted prairie as both pollinator habitat and cattle pasture we will survey the nutritional quality, floral resources, and invertebrate pollinator presence in a planted prairie pasture under different grazing pressures. In addition, we will also track how cattle grazing may influence (short-term) the prairie pasture plant community and collect baseline data on soil health in the prairie pasture system.
A diverse prairie mix was planted in the spring of 2019 and managed through two seasons of establishment before being burned and rotationally grazed for the first time in 2022. For this study (2023 - 2024) the prairie pasture was divided into multiple paddocks of 1 - 3 acres to accommodate rotational grazing management and different grazing intensities: with paddocks grazed at 0, 1, and 2 grazings through the growing season. Cattle began grazing in late June or early July and were rotated through each paddock -- grazing for one to two days -- before the paddock was rested a minimum of 40 days before any subsequent grazing (if any) in mid-August.
From late-May to mid-July 2023 and 2024, we collected bi-weekly (every other week) vegetation samples of native grass species only (no forbs were selected) for lab analysis of forage quality to track how nutrients change throughout the growing season. In June 2023 and 2024 and before any grazing, each prairie paddock was rapidly surveyed for vegetation composition (richness and abundance). In addition, prairie paddocks were surveyed at least three times through the 2023 and 2024 growing season for floral resources (richness and abundance of blooms) and pollinator presence. Floral surveys were conducted before and after grazing “disturbances” to assess how floral bloom changed through the growing season in the grazed pasture. To the best of our non-lethal means, pollinators will be identified to species level (for butterflies) and morpho-grouping (for native bees) using Xerces’ Upper Midwest Community Science Pollinator Monitoring Guide.
During the two growing seasons of 2023 and 2024, we will:
- Evaluate forage quality of planted prairie grasses using laboratory diagnosis
- Evaluate flower richness and abundance through the growing season (June 1 - Oct. 1) of grazed prairie paddocks
- Survey plant recovery from grazing and changes in plant species composition; specifically looking at changes in cover of functional groupings of species: warm season grasses, cool season grasses, forbs.
- Survey pollinator presence (bees and butterflies)
- Record baseline information on soil health of prairie pasture
- Share findings through a field day, conference presentation, and a published “fact-sheet”
Cooperators
- (Educator and Researcher)
- (Researcher)
Research
Prairie Forage Quality Research: Each week from June 5 to July 17 forage tests were taken from a representative part of the prairie. Forage samples were taken on noon one day each week. Samples only included native prairie grass species. Forbs, legumes and non-native grass species were not included in the samples. Forages samples were taken to Rock River Lab in Watertown WI as soon as sample was taken. Two types of tests were taken. One using NIR forage testing methods and another using Wet Chemistry. July 11 and July 17 test were only done using wet chemistry, since it was clear this was the most accurate test for native prairie grass. No forage testing was completed after July 17 since forage quality was declining and would not be quality cattle feed. Forage samples were taken at noon, during sunny days to capture the best sugar content in the grasses. One of the sample days we did have a smokey haze from the Canadian wildfires, and this did result in lower sugar levels in the grass.
Prairie Soil Health: On June 15,2023 we took samples in a dry prairie hillside, mesic prairie base of the hill and a mesic non-native pasture that has been managed organically as pasture for 6 years. The non-native pasture has been tested for the last two years. All locations were farmed conventionally as row crops previously, but have been managed organically in perennial forages for the last 6 years. We used Midwest Laboratories soil health test calculation which looks at multiple indicators of soil health. This was a drought year, and that does seem to affect the test score, likely because the soil life is limited by the drier conditions.
Plant community
The prairie pasture plant community composition data is described by overall species richness (i.e. # of unique plant species encountered), by frequency, and by abundance. Plant composition data was collected from eight 0.5 m x 0.5 m quadrats evenly distributed along a 100 ft transect. Two transects, each with eight quadrats, were randomly placed in three different paddocks – including deferred and grazed paddocks – throughout the pasture to capture the existing variation in plant species distribution. Plant species were noted as “present” if they were observed within each quadrat. While we hoped to collect additional data – such as % cover, height, vegetative regrowth – that may better describe how the plant community responds to grazing, we did not have the time to do so.
The plant community survey was conducted in late June before cows had grazed the paddocks. Frequency of plant presence for each paddock and the pasture as a whole was calculated by dividing the sum total of times a plant was observed in a quadrat by the number of quadrats for a given paddock (16 quadrats) or the whole pasture (48). Plant abundance was calculated by dividing the sum total of times a plant was observed in a quadrat by the total number of species observations collected.
Floral Blooms
The number of plants and number of species of floral blooms in the planted prairie pasture was collected in late June, mid-July, mid-August, and late September. Fifteen 6 ft x 1.5 ft quadrats were evenly spaced along a 100 ft transect, with data collected from two transects placed in three to six paddocks across the pasture – including both grazed and deferred paddocks. Species were recorded as present if they were in bloom and inside a quadrat at the time of the survey. Counting individual flowers on each plant, while ideal, was too time consuming to complete. A t-test with unequal variance was used to compare bloom differences between deferred and grazed paddocks within the same month.
Bees
Bee surveys were completed across the pasture – representing both grazed and deferred paddocks – in mid-June, mid-August, and late September. Surveys were conducted following WIBee protocols for methodology and adapted using Xerces’ community science guidance for bee functional grouping. A 3 ft x 3 ft space containing a flowering plant or plants was observed for 5 minutes with all bees (native and honey) as well as flies, wasps, and beetles landing on a flower within the survey space noted as present and the number of times a unique insect visitor was observed to land on the flower. Bee functional groups included bumble bees, striped sweat bees, green sweat bees, medium dark bees, tiny dark bees, and hairy belly bees. Bee surveys included both native plants as well as introduced species that were flowering within the pasture.
Butterflies
Butterfly surveys were conducted using a pollard walk of the entire prairie pasture in June, July, and August. Surveys began about 11 - 11:30 am and lasted 2 hrs. The pollard route followed the perimeter of each paddock through the middle – at a paddock’s base, mid-slope, and up-slope boundary. All butterflies observed to be within or crossing the transect route – buffered by 15 feet in front, behind, and on either side of the observer – were recorded as present. These include butterflies that were flying through, resting, feeding, or mating and that could be identified visually in the field or briefly captured in a net and then released.
Summary slide set of grazing set up and select results: SARE Summary
Excel spreadsheet of select data and results: SARE Results
Prairie Forage Quality Research: The comparison between NIR and Wet Chemistry forage testing of native prairie grasses showed clearly that the current NIR is inadequate to show the quality of native prairie grass for cattle grazing. RFV and RFQ are also poor tests to determine prairie grass quality. The NIR test consistently showed lower levels of sugar, NDFD 30 and Total Digestible Nutrients that the wet chemistry tests. NIR testing also showed much higher lignin levels in the grass that the wet chemistry test, which would suggest that the grass is not very digestible, when in reality the forage was very digestible with very good levels of energy. Cattle performance and preference for this type of forage indicates the wet chemistry test is closer to reality. Both tests show lower protein levels in the grass that would be ideal for cattle, levels of 12-14% crude protein, trending lower as that grass plant matures. But cattle in these pastures did select forbs and legumes, which were not included in the forage test, but likely provide the protein levels they need. Full prairie forage tests are provided here with a non-native pasture sample from late June on our farm included to show the similar forage quality results:
- Ryan Heinen 6-5-23 Warm Season Pasture - Native wet chem180793 STD
- Ryan_Heinen_6-12-23_Prairie_NIR_Pasture_1459068_STD
- Ryan_Heinen_6-12-23_Warm_Season_Prairie_Pasture_Wet Chem
- Ryan_Heinen_6-20-23_Prairie_NIR_Warm_Season_Pasture_1460414_STD (1)
- Ryan_Heinen_6-20-23_Prairie_Pasture_-_Warm_Season_181193_STD
- Ryan_Heinen_6-27-23_Prairie_NIR_1461652_STD
- Ryan_Heinen_6-27-23_Prairie_Wet_1461651_STD (1)
- Ryan_Heinen_7-3-23_Prairie_Wet_1462605_STD (1)
- Ryan_Heinen_7-3-23_Prarie_NIR_1462606_STD
- Ryan_Heinen_7-11-23_Prairie_Wet_181616_STD
- Ryan_Heinen_7-17-23_Prairie_Wet_-_Warm_Season_Native_Pasture_181785_STD
- GHF SARE Prairie Grazing Forage Quality 2023Non-native pasture forage test June 2023
- Gwenyn Hill Farm 6-27-24 Heif Pasture 191571 CNA[1033]
- Ryan Heinen 7-3-24 Prairie Wet Native Prairie Pasture 191722 CNA[1035]
- Ryan Heinen 7-25-24 Prairie Pasture Wet 192232 STD
- Ryan_Heinen_7-17-24_Prairie_Pasture_192078_STD
2023 Grazing: In 2023 we experienced a drought for the entirety of the growing season from May - September. Prairie growth was slow though consistent despite the lack of precipitation. From June 28th - July 6th 15 head of beef cow-calf pairs, dairy heifers, and dry milk cows grazed the 8 acre prairie pasture -- moving from paddock to paddock every 12 - 36 hours. Prairie was grazed to 6" - 16" residual, with vegetation height varying widely. Some of the prairie paddocks were grazed a second time in August 27th - 30th with the same amount of cattle. This second grazing left residual to 3" - 6" high.
2024 Grazing: In 2024 we had much more rain than in 2023. Prairie growth was thick and robust even in the paddocks that had been grazed heavily in 2023. From June 25th - June 29th our 65 cow organic dairy herd grazed the prairie. The 8 acres of prairie grazed (leaving on additional acre ungrazed all season) supported the dairy herd for 5 days, providing 75% of there dry matter needs. Milk production stayed constant, and cattle seemed satisfied. Over the 5 days they learned to graze additional species, such as grey headed coneflower (Ratibida pinnata). The heat caused the cattle to bunch up during the day, and then graze more spread out when it cooled at night. Cattle were moved to a new section twice a day after each milking. With the good rains, regrowth was very good after the first grazing, and we regrazed much of the prairie planting again started August 20th - 26th. The second grazing supported the same amount of cattle for the same time.
After two years it appears that a prairie planting could work into the needs of a grazing farm, providing good quality forage, especially in the hot times of the summer.
Prairie Soil Health: Both locations showed very good soil health, with both having an overall soil health score over 100% of the possible soil health calculation. For comparison we have also done this soil health calculation on our 6-year old non-native pastures with equally high soil health scores measuring near or above 100%. Soil moisture does seem to impact the results of this test, which makes sense, because the test is ultimately measuring soil life, which is higher when moisture is not limiting. These results suggest to me that diverse perennial pastures that are organically managed with the appropriate amounts of grazing and rest are the key to soil health no matter if they are native prairie or non-native pasture. Prairie and non-native pasture soil health 2023
Plant community
The approximately 9 acre prairie pasture was seeded into prairie in May of 2019 with a diverse mix of 48 native plant species (11 grasses and 37 forbs) totaling 87 seeds per square foot. Proportionally, grasses made up about 80% of the mix measured by seeds per square foot. Our plant surveys recorded a total of 40 plant species, with 26 of those plants represented in the initial seed mix and remaining 14 plant species were introduced plants (i.e. non-native species). Of the 40 surveyed plants a subset of them (26 plant species) were commonly observed with any significant frequency (>5%): those 26 species included 15 native plants (7 grasses and 8 forbs) and 11 introduced plants (6 grasses and 5 forbs). The frequency of observations for individual species varied greatly, though native grasses were easily one of the most commonly encountered groups with 4 different species recording a frequency greater than 25%; 1 native forb, 1 introduced forb, and 1 introduced grass also had frequencies greater than 25%.
Frequency describes the relative commoness or rarity of encountering an individual plant species and helps describe the make-up of the prairie pasture community. Measures of relative abundance better inform the the overall prairie pasture composition by standardizing how often a plant species is observed to the total # of observations made. Overall, the prairie pasture was composed of plant species from 4 functional groups: prairie grasses were the most abundant (44.3%), followed by native forbs (22.3%) and introduced forbs (22.2%), and lastly introduced grasses (11.2%). While we did not measure proportional biomass of the function groups, we would estimate that native grasses accounted for approximately 80% of the biomass with native forbs, introduced forbs, and introduced grasses rounding out the remaining 20% of biomass. Overall, the prairie can be described as dominated by prairie grasses, interspersed with native and introduced forbs, and an underlying scattering of introduced grasses.
In those paddocks that were grazed, 18 plant species (11 native and 7 introduced species) experienced an appreciable change in presence (frequency increased or decreased by 5%) from 2023 to 2024. Of those 18 plant species, 10 experienced an appreciable change in abundance, increasing or decreasing by 2% (6 native and 4 introduced). Of the 6 native species, 4 plants decreased in frequency and abundance (switch grass, little bluestem, monarda, and sideoats grama) and 2 increased in frequency and abundance (western wheatgrass and ox-eye sunflower). Alfalfa and smooth brome both increased in frequency and abundance, while canada thistle and dandelion decreased. While the frequency and abundance of individual species varied in their response to grazing, 3 of top 6 species that accounted for 50% of the abundance of the prairie pasture community in 2023 remained most abundant: big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), switch grass (Panicum virgatum), and yellow coneflower (Ratibida pinnata). Canada thistle and slender wheatgrass fell out of the top 6, though minimally so -- falling to positions 8 and 7 for their 2024 abundance, respectively, yet still together accounting for nearly 10% in abundance.
Overall, the prairie plant community did change between years and possibly as a result of grazing disturbance. Specifically, it appears that grazing may have a detrimental impact on select native species, particularly the smaller bunch grasses. However, one year's worth of data is insufficient to directly correlate a change in frequency or abundance to grazing, especially with 2023 being an extreme drought year. Furthermore, plant community surveys were conducted in early June and the grasses could have been misidentified, potentially influencing data collection and results. In sum, grazing appears to influence the plant community, however the magnitude of the effect is difficult to disentangle from annual variation in plant populations and climate. Still, data from this short study does highlight the possibility of immediate plant changes in grazed prairie pasture. As such, graziers should vary grazing intensity (stocking rate, timing of grazing, and frequency of grazing) to ensure that the prairie plant community is sustained and to avoid losses of key prairie plant species.
Floral Blooms
35 unique species of blooms were recorded in the prairie pasture system, with 29 species of blooms (22 native and 7 introduced) recorded in grazed paddocks and 31 species (24 native and 7 introduced) recorded in deferred (ungrazed) paddocks. Regardless of whether a paddock was grazed or not, the metrics for bloom richness, total number of blooms, and frequency of blooms peaked in July, were roughly sustained into August, and then were greatly reduced in September. Bloom metrics collected in June and before any grazing were relatively low (albeit observationally comparative to those in September) and were predominantly made up of introduced species (alfalfa and clovers).
Focussing on native plant species metrics, the unique number of native species in bloom in June were limited to between 1 - 2 species (avg 1.67), peaked in July at 8.75 in deferred paddocks and 4.21 in grazed paddocks, slightly decreased in August at 6.5 native species in deferred paddocks and remained static in grazed paddocks at 4.21, before declining at season's end in September to an average of 5 and 3.33 unique native species in bloom in deferred and grazed paddocks, respectively. The average frequency of native blooms (i.e. the probability by which at least one or more native plants in bloom might be encountered in a deferred or grazed prairie paddock) followed a similar monthly trajectory: 21% in June, increased to 87% in deferred and 49% in grazed paddocks in July, sustained at 87% in deferred and slightly increased to 58% in grazed paddocks in August, and then declined in September to 50% in deferred and 25% in grazed paddocks.
The averages for all native floral metrics in July and August were significantly different (t-test with unequal variance) when comparing deferred and grazed paddocks, with the deferred paddock sustaining - on average - more native floral blooms, more unique native species in bloom, and a greater frequency of native plants in bloom. In September, the t-test analyses for the unique native species in bloom (p-value 0.02730) and frequency of native blooms (p-value 0.04135) in grazed and deferred paddocks were weakly significantly different. Though observationally different, the difference in total number native species in blooms was not statistically significant (p-value 0.05684), with deferred paddocks sustaining - on average - 9.75 total blooms per-transect in contrast to an average of 4.5 blooms in grazed paddocks.
| June | July | August | September | |||||||
| Average bloom metrics | null | defer | grazed | P-value | defer | grazed | P-value | defer | grazed | P-value |
| # unique species | 3.67 | 10.75 | 5.36 | 0.00016 | 8.00 | 6.57 | 0.14568 | 5.00 | 4.42 | 0.69124 |
| # of unique native species | 1.67 | 8.75 | 4.21 | 0.00026 | 6.50 | 4.21 | 0.00713 | 5.00 | 3.33 | 0.17329 |
| total # of blooms | 14.00 | 42.00 | 13.64 | 5E-06 | 37.50 | 26.93 | 0.05580 | 9.75 | 6.58 | 0.30511 |
| total # of native blooms | 4.08 | 31.25 | 11.07 | 0.00031 | 25.25 | 12.43 | 0.00049 | 9.75 | 4.50 | 0.04147 |
| native frequency | 21% | 87% | 49% | 0.00608 | 87% | 58% | 0.00460 | 50% | 25% | 0.03418 |
The floral bloom results indicate that the number and frequency of native blooms are significantly greater in paddocks that have not been grazed in contrast to those that have. Though fewer in number and frequency, blooming native plants are somewhat common in grazed paddocks (frequency of 49% - 58% in July and August) and may sustain sufficient forage for pollinator visitors. Grazed paddocks of prairie pasture do provide floral resources for native pollinators provided that there are sufficient blooms to sustain their nutritional needs and nesting provisions. Additional data that describes a minimum number of blooms within a given area to support native pollinator needs will help determine the extent of which flowering prairie pastures can play a role in pollinator conservation efforts. Including a deferred paddock (ungrazed) in the prairie pasture system can further provide abundant blooms for native pollinator life and, depending on proximity, can supplement the limited blooms found in grazed prairie paddocks.
Bees
34 bee surveys were conducted across three visits in June, August, and September of 2023. 24 surveys documented bee visitation on a native plant while 10 surveys documented bee visits to an introduced species – either alfalfa (Medicago sativa) or clover (Trifolium repens). 6 surveys were completed before grazing began and 16 surveys were completed after vegetation had been grazed. Across the 34 surveys, 199 bee observations and 81 non-bee flower visitors (flies, beetles, wasps) were recorded. Native bees were observed in a given survey 82.35% of the time (28 surveys) while honey bees were observed in half (50.00%) of the surveys (17 surveys). Excluding the non-bee visitors, native bees were more often observed and composed nearly two-thirds (63.32% or 126) of the recorded flower visitors. Honey bees were less frequently observed, with 73 total visits or 36.68%.
The “type” (i.e. functional group) of native bee and the frequency that it was observed varied tremendously. Striped sweat bees were the dominant native bee visitor recorded, accounting for 80 of the 126 native bee visits (63.49%), followed by 18 tiny dark bee observations (14.29%), 14 bumble bees (11.11%), 7 green sweat bees (5.56%), 6 hairy belly bees (4.76%), and 1 medium dark bee (0.79%). Regardless of functional identity, all native bees appeared to strongly prefer native plants, with 92.06% of their visits (116) being recorded on a native plant. More so, three (3) functional native bee groups were never recorded visiting either of the introduced plant species. In addition, other flower visitors (flies, beetles, wasps) were observed to prefer native plants, with 76.5% of their records occurring on a native plant in contrast to 23.5% of the records occurring on introduced plants. When honey bees were observed, 58.90% of their visits (43) were recorded on a native plant and 41.10% (30 visits) on an introduced plant.
Overall, these data (while not fully statistically analyzed for significance) strongly indicate that native bees and other native insect flower visitors strongly prefer and require native flowers for their forage needs. Whereas honey bees are generalist feeders and can sustain themselves on a broadly diverse diet of both introduced and native plants. The extremely infrequent observations of native bees foraging on introduced plants is likely a result of a mismatch between bee morphology, biology, and physiology: a large majority of bees either cannot access the nectar and pollen of alfalfa or clover flowers because of tongue length or body size, or may not prefer that pollen or nectar, or do not have an ecological history/relationship with those plants.
Butterflies
In total, 24 unique species of butterflies were observed across the growing seasons in 2023 and 2024 combined: between the two years, an average of 11.5 unique species were observed in June, 10.5 in July, and 10 in August. As the season progressed, the number of observations increased in both years, averaging 74 total observations made in June, 247 in July, and 349 in August. The majority of observations were made in the upper prairie pasture – up slope and east facing. The six most frequent species observed were cabbage white (38.47%), pearl crescent (19.05%), clouded sulfur (17.24%), orange sulfur (14.20%), monarch (4.84%), and eastern tiger (1.67%).
Educational & Outreach Activities
Participation Summary:
- GHF SARE Prairie Grazing Forage Quality 2023
- GLBW-Warmseason-fact-sheet-LPaine-Sep2020-FINAL-1 (1)
- Gwenyn Hill Seed Mix June 28 Gwenyn Hill Farm Pasturewalk
In 2023 we conducted one pasture walk attended by 23 farmers, 5 agency or non-profit staff and 20 other people that had an interest in prairie. A second pasture walk was completed in September 2024 with 35 farmers, agency or non-profit staff, and other community members in attendance. Both pasture walk reviewed this study's work on grazing warm season prairie pasture. We discussed how we were using grazing to manage our prairie plants, maintain and improve native plant, pollinator and wildlife diversity, and how the warm season native grasses fit in with our beef and dairy operations on the farm. We also discussed restoration techniques, fencing, and use of prescribed fire.
In addition, we also hosted the 2023 Gwenyn Hill Fall Farm Fesitval and tour which was attended by over 300 of our customers, neighbors and others interested in the farm. The festival included a talk about the native pollinators and butterfly's that were observed in the grazed prairie during the summer of 2023.
In Februray 2024, March 2024, and January of 2025 we presented at the Marbleseed Conference, the Northwest Graziers Conference, and the GrassWorks Conference where we shared a comprehensive overview of this prairie pasture project, results, and recommendations for prairie pasture grazing and farm inclusion.
Learning Outcomes
Forage Quality of Native Prairie Grass: The research we did this year on forage quality of native prairie grasses, a comparison between wet chemistry forage test vs. NIR forage tests was very interesting. The NIR forage tests showed a lower forage quality than the Wet Chemistry tests showed. Given the cattle's eagerness to graze the forage I believe the wet chemistry test is closer to the actual value of the forage. RFV and RFQ are poor tests in either testing method to show the value of native grasses to cattle. Generally, the NIR test show higher Lignin, lower sugar, higher starch, lower NDFD 30 and TDN 1x than is actually found in the native grasses. From early June through the middle of July the sugar and digestible fiber in the grass was of very good quality with good levels of energy in the grass fiber and sugars with low lignin levels. During this time period native grass forage quality based on fiber digestibility, starch and sugar was comparable to our cool season non-native dairy cow pastures. This year we grazed dry cows, beef and dairy heifers on the prairie. However, given the quality of the forage I will plan to graze our milking cow herd on the prairie. By doing this I will also be able to see animal performance by measuring the daily milk production while on this type of forage.
This was also a drought year on our farm. This slowed the growth of both our non-native pastures but also the native prairie pasture. However, it still produced a good amount of forage for our cattle, especially during a time of year (mid Summer) when our cool season non-native pasture growth was slowing down. We were able to graze 15 head on 8.5 acres of prairie for a total of 6 days with a mixed herd of beef cow/calf pairs, dairy heifers, and dry milk cows. This was approximately 10 animal units.
On our farm having more of this forage would be of benefit to our grazing system, and allow more rest for the non-native pasture during the summer slump. I think it would specifically fit in nicely on our steeper and drier pasture soils which are less productive overall, but the warm season, deep rooted prairie plants could produce just as much, if not more than the non-native grasses in these types of slopes and soils. GHF SARE Prairie Grazing Forage Quality 2023
Soil Health: Two locations in our prairie pasture were tested this year for soil health. One location was a drier hillside and another was a more productive mesic prairie at the bottom of the hill. Both location showed very good soil health, with both having an overall soil health score over 100% of the possible soil health calculation. For comparison we have also done this soil health calculation on our 6 year old non-native pastures with equally high soil health scores measuring near or above 100%. Soil moisture does seem to impact the results of this test, which makes since, because the test is ultimately measuring soil life, which is higher when moisture is not limiting. These results suggest to me that diverse perennial pastures that are organically managed with the appropriate amounts of grazing and rest are the key to soil health no matter if they are native prairie or non-native pasture. Prairie and non-native pasture soil health 2023
Closing Thoughts
- Cattle/cows enjoy prairie pasture
- Prairie pasture provides sufficient forage for animals grazed in intensive rotation
- Grazing twice in one growing season w/ sufficient (+45 days) recovery is a starting point to optimize regrowth in a rotational grazing system
- Climate, soils, and appropriate rest influence plant recovery and growth; perhaps masking or accommodating acute grazing pressure
- Grazing should be adapted to maintain prairie pasture longevity
- Plant preference is learned and grazing days on prairie increases familiarity with prairie pasture plants
- Valuable to include palatable and unpalatable species in a prairie mix to support both animal productivity and conservation goals as ungrazed native plants will provide maximal blooms
- Deferring (not grazing) a paddock maximizes wildlife value